Stretcher



A. W. ABEL Feb. 28, 1961 STRETCHER Filed Jun?d 26, 1958 1NVENT0R. lber 0d. ,0b el AHORA/E nited States Patent "O STRETCHER Albert W. Abel, 911 Independence Ave., Kansas City, Mo.

Fixed June 26, 195s, ser. No. 744,865-

z Claims. (Cus-sz) This invention relates to apparatus lfor moving disabled persons or persons who must be removed from the lscene of a lire or similar catastrophe and more particularly relates to a stretcher which may be used to transport a human with a minimum amount of effort.

The most important object of this inventionis to provide a stretcherwhich may be moved easilyv along horistretcher that will afford the occupant a maximum v A amount of protection from such elementsas fire', smoke, water or the like as he is being transported therein.

Further objects of the invention Will become evident from the following specification and from vthe drawing wherein: l

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the stretcher with the body-receiving bag partially open;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view-thereof showing the stretcher as it is moved along a ladder;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along. v

line 4-4 of Fig. 2; and v y Fig. 5 is an end elevational view of the stretcher. -V

The stretcher, is broadly comprised of a frame 12, a

supporting member 14 carried bythe frame 12 and a x body-receiving bag 16 secured to the supporting member Frame 12 includes'a pair of sections 18 and'Z disposed in parallel, spacedrelationship. Each of said sections 18 and 20 is formed from a pair of angle-iron rails 22, 24 and 26, 28 respectively, each pair of rails 22-24 and 26-28 having their inner legs 30, 32 and 34, 36 respectively disposed in alignment and in the same vertical plane, with their outwardly extending legs 38-40, and 42-44 respectively in parallel relationship.

Each pair of rails 22-24 and 26-28 are inter-connected by a plurality vof plates 46 said plates being secured to the inner legs 30-32 and 34-36 whereby to maintain rails 22-24 and 26a-28 in predetermined spaced relationship.

Plates 46 of each section 18 and 20 are disposed in opposed relationship to the end that the same may also serve to carry a number of wheel and axle assemblies 48 as best shown in Fig. 4. The stretcher illustrated in the drawing ycarries three such wheel and axle assemblies v 48, but it is manifest that the number of such assemblies.

used in conjunction with the stretcher may be varied as desired. It is preferred, however, to position at least one of the assemblies 48 near an end of the frame 12 so that the opposite end of the stretcher may be raised and thereafter the stretcher rolled on the wheels of the said Ice one assembly. With two or three such assemblies 48 spaced along the length of the frame 12 as shown in the drawing it is unnecessary to raise one end of the stretcher as above set forth in order to move the same. lt may be rolled in a horizontal position with all wheels on the supporting surface.

Regardless of the number of assemblies 48 carried by the frame 12, it is desirable that the lower edges of the wheels of such assemblies extend only slightly below legs 40 and 44 of sections 18 and 20.A This for the reason that when the stretcheris in use on such structures as ladders or the like the Vbottom surfacesS and 52 of legs 40 and 44 respectively serve as runners or skids to move the stretcher smoothly and continuously over broken or uneven surfaces. Said surfaces 50 and 52 are smooth and unbroken and thus at all times provide a support for the stretcher even in cases of use where the wheels may not be in contact with the surface over which the stretcher is being moved, as in the case when the stretcher is being moved over the rungs of a ladder. A

To further provide the maximum degree of comfort for the occupant as the stretcher is moved over uneven surfaces, and particularly over sharp steps as those "created by the joints of an extension ladder, the ends of lower rails 24 and 28 are inclinedlupwardly and outwardly at one end thereof and joined with upper rails 22 and 26 respectively. l

Suchv construction is best shown in Fig. 3 and it is l seen that as a result thereof the entire stretcher passes length with the frame and s secured to legs 3S and 42 by l means of bars 54 and 56 respectively and bolts58 and 60 which pass through their respective bars 54 and S6,

Aa marginal edge of member 14 and legs 38 and 42` respectively thus tightly clamping member 14 in place. T o

add kadditional stability to member 14 a plurality of spaced apart strips 62 are secured at their mid-portions to member 14 by stitching or other suitable means, withrone free end of each stripl 62 being secured toy leg 32 and the other. free end thereof to leg V36. Strips 62 are preferablyofwebbing or the like in order that they'may be veasily attached to member 14 preferably made of a strong canvas or equivalent material. Secured to the upper face 'of member 14 bylines ,of stitching 64 is elongated' bag 16 adapted to carry therein ,the body of the person being transported on thestretcher. .l Bag 16 is formed from a singlev piece of canvasl or similar material, and' has "a slide fastener 66 extending substantially the entire length thereof in order to permit placing the body in the bag.

When the body has been placed in the bag slide fastener 66 is closed and a plurality of straps 68 are tightened to secure the body within bag 16. A flap 70 adjacent the normally open end of the bag 16 may then be folded over the head of the occupant of the stretcher, thus fully encasing him and affording protection from fire, water or the like.

The width of member 14 is greater than the distance between the rails 22 and 26 to which the marginal longitudinal edges thereof are secured. Thus an arcuate, comfortable cradle for bag 16 and its occupant is formed.

Lines of stitching 64, which secure strips 62 to mem- .ber 14 along the longitudinal median line of said memawa-aas insuring that the bag 16 will not fall or move outwardly from the stretcher if straps 68 should not be fastened.

A base plate 72 is provided at the foot of the frame 12 adjacent the normally .closed end of the bag 16 fonthe purpose of supporting `the feet of the ,occupant during movement of the stretcher valong inclined surfaces `as Yin Fig. 3.

To facilitate the handling and movement of the stretcher there is provided at the end thereof opposite base plate 72 and adjacent the normally open end of bag 16 a handle 74, said handle 74 being in the form of a rod 76 attached to legs 30 and 34 and thus joining sections 18 and 20. A sleeve 73 surrounds rod 76 and lrotates thereabout, the sleeve 78 being attached to a rope 80 by means of attaching element `82 and a pivot Apin 84. A cable 86 is attached at its mid-meint to rope 30 one free end of said cable being connected with section 18, the other free end thereof being connected to section 20 at the forwardmost ends thereof respectively.

Thus, rope 80, which is strengthened by a steel cable forming a core therefor, may be used to lower the stretcher as shown best in Fig. 3, the rope S being Swingable in any direction either laterally about pin S4 or vertically about rod 76 by means of rotatable sleeve 78. Such freedom of movement of rope 80 compensates to an extent for the xed position of wheel and axle assemblies 48 and facilitates movement of the stretcher about obstacles.

Thus, it is seen that `when the occupant of the stretcher is within bag 16 the entire stretcher may be easily moved `over horizontal surfaces by merely rolling the same, or

one end may be raised by handle 74 and the stretcher pushed or pulled along on the wheels at the opposite Vend thereof. Even more advantageous is the fact that the stretcher may be raised or lowered along Vertical ,or sharply inclined surfaces such as Walls of shafts `or houses or along the rungs of a ladder standing in a substantially vertical position and the stretcher -will pass therealong with a minimum amount of discomfort to the occupant due to the wheels and runners being constantly in contact with the surface and the construction which enables the stretcher to pass smoothly over the sharp steps or the like.

Having thus described the invention what is ,claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A stretcher comprising a frame, said frame including a pair of opposed, elongated sections, each section having an upper and a lower L-shaped rail; plates rigidly interconnecting said rails of each section; wheel and axle assemblies carried by said plates and interconnecting said sections; an elongated, flexible load-supporting member secured to said upper rails, said member having a width greater than the distance between said sections to .create a transversely arched member disposed substantially entirely below the plane of the upper edges of said sections; strips securing said load-supporting member to said bottom rails; a body-receiving bag mounted on and secured to said supporting member; straps secured to said supporting member and normally passing over the bag for holding the body within the bag; a rod joining said upper rails at one end thereof; a sleeve surrounding said rod and rotata-ble thereabout; and a rope pivotally interconnected with said sleeve.

2. A stretcher comprising a frame, said frame including a pair of opposed, spaced apart, parallel elongated sections, each of said sections having an upper and a lower L-shaped rail, said rails presenting a pair of parallel outwardly extending legs on each section, said legs of the lower rails having a smooth, unbroken lower surface, said lower rails being angled upwardly and outwardly at one end thereof and joining with said upper rails; opposed plates spaced equidistant along each .of said sections and interconnecting the upper and lower rails o f each section respectively; a wheel and axle assembly carried between each pair of opposed plates respectively, the wheels extending slightly below said lower surface of the lower rails; a load-supporting member .disposed between said sections and aixed to the upper rails thereof, said member having a width greater than the distance between said sections to create a transversely arched member disposed substantially entirely below the plane of the u pper edges of said sections; strips interconnecting said supporting member with said bottom rails of each section respectively; a body-receiving bag secured to said `supporting member, said bag being provided with a slide fastener, straps for securing the body within .the bag and a flap for closing the normally open end of the bag; a base plate disposed between said sections adjacent the normally closed end of the bag; and a handle joining ,the upper rails of said sections at the ends thereof v0I- posite said base plate.

Great Britain Mar. 16, 

